1787 Gold Proof Spade Guinea

1787 Gold Proof Spade Guinea

COIN

1787 Gold Proof Spade Guinea

QUALITY

FDC

PROVENANCE

Spink Auction 1951, J J Pittman 1999

PRICE

$ 18,000

COMMENTS

That proof coining is a tradition that goes back centuries is exemplified in this superb 1787 George III Gold Proof Spade Guinea. Struck in the year the First Fleet sailed from British shores, the coin has superb detail, brilliant mirror fields and shows extensive die striations from arduous die polishing. Qualities that are the hallmark of proof coining.

It is a fact that collectors of highly historical pieces are a pretty passionate lot. That this coin has only been sold twice over the last 63 years reflects the strong connection that exists between this coin (that is simply breathtaking for quality) and its former owners.

To add further to its appeal, 1787 was the sole year in which the Spade Guinea was coined as a proof.

This piece is a proof striking of a Proclamation coin. As such it is highly historical and extremely important to collectors of early Australiana. Moreover it is rare.

The Spade Guinea was one of many coins that filtered their way into the penal colony of New South Wales and which would eventually be given an official local value by order of Governor Gidley King under the Proclamation of 1800. The Spade guinea was proclaimed as having a local value of £1 2s.

The gold Spade Guinea was a symbol of solid wealth; the coin taking its name from the shape of its shield, which was thought to resemble the mouth of a spade.